Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarded Wallenberg Medal

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was awarded today the Wallenberg Medal on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s birth. R. Wallenberg was a Swedish humanitarian and diplomat in Nazi-occupied Hungary where he led a successful mission to save the lives of nearly 100,000 Hungarian Jews. The award ceremony was held by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation in the Armenian president’s residence.

According to the presidential press service, in his speech Serzh Sargsyan underlined the importance of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation’s mission and expressed his gratitude for the award. He spoke about Armenia’s policy aimed at combining efforts of the international community for the prevention and condemnation of crimes against humanity and the struggle against those phenomena that contribute to such crimes.

Those present also paid tribute to the memory of medical doctor Harutyun Ruben Khachatrian who saved human lives during the Holocaust. He was also awarded the Wallenberg Medal. The award was handed to Harutyun Khachatrian’s granddaughter, Anna Khachatrian.

The founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation Baruch Tanembaum made a speech, presenting the history of the Foundation’s establishment and its activities which research Holocaust rescuers and advocate for their recognition.

The Foundation’s representatives expressed their gratitude to numerous Armenians who saved human lives during the Holocaust: homage will be paid to them, and their heroic lives will be examined in detail and made public.